Island (pop., 1999: 109,382), Solomon Islands , South Pacific Ocean.
The largest of the Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal has an area of 2,047 sq mi (5,302 sq km); the national capital, Honiara, lies on the northern coast. The economy is based mainly on fishing and agriculture; gold mining began in the 1990s. The island was visited by the Spanish in the 16th century and by the British in the late 18th century; it was annexed in 1893 as part of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate. During World War II it was the scene of prolonged fighting between U.S. and Japanese forces (1942–43), which resulted in the Allied capture of a Japanese air base there. Several naval battles were also fought in the area. Ethnic tensions between Guadalcanal islanders and migrants from the nearby island of Malaita worsened after World War II. After the islands achieved independence from Great Britain in 1978, ethnically based disputes simmered on the island, sparking violence and rioting in 1998 and underlying the paramilitary coup of June 2000. A peace accord between the factions was signed in October 2000.